Knesset Committee Approves Basic Law on Torah Study After Key Clause Removed

The Knesset Committee, chaired by MK Ofir Katz, approved the Basic Law proposal on Torah Study for its second and third readings on Thursday evening. The approval came after the committee accepted Katz's recommendation to remove Section 2, which originally aimed to recognize Torah study as a fundamental value "to create justice balances against other fundamental values in the State of Israel." This decision followed negotiations between Likud and the ultra-Orthodox parties to reach a consensus that would avoid coalition disputes. The vote saw six MKs in favor and four against.

Chairman Katz explained that after discussions with ultra-Orthodox coalition partners and other coalition members, it was decided to retain only Section 1, which establishes Torah study as a core value and heritage of the Jewish people in Israel. He noted that some opposition members indicated they might support the law if Section 2 were removed. Katz also emphasized that "no soldier will be harmed" by the law's approval. Concurrently, Katz announced that on Sunday, another law intended to address the needs of soldiers and servicemen will be advanced, with the final vote on the Torah Study Basic Law and its revisions to follow.

During the debate, opposition MK Shirly Naor criticized the law, arguing that even after removing Section 2, Torah study remains the only value enshrined in a Basic Law, while other values, including military service, lack similar status. Deputy Legal Advisor to the Government, Adv. Avital Sompolinsky, stated that if removing Section 2 preserves existing judicial balances, the law essentially becomes declarative. Similarly, Knesset Legal Advisor Adv. Sagit Afik said that without the controversial clause, the law does not provide grounds for harming soldiers or changing resource allocations, effectively only affirming Torah study as a value.

Within the ultra-Orthodox parties, dissent was voiced regarding the compromise. MK Yinon Azulai acknowledged that removing Section 2 was against his faction's preference but agreed to the coalition's request. Yahadut HaTorah leader Itzhak Goldknopf opposed deleting the clause, believing it should have remained in the law. The compromise between Likud and the ultra-Orthodox parties is expected to reduce right-wing opposition to the law while maintaining recognition of Torah study as a fundamental value, but without the practical implications related to military conscription and budgeting that Section 2 might have introduced.